Staff celebrate centenary of St Francis Xavier School, Goodna

The Catholic Leader

Sharing: Former teachers of St Francis Xavier's School, Goodna, Ann Everett (left) and Lisa Boyd chat to current teacher Brenda Reynolds about changes to the school over the past 100 years

CURRENT and former staff of St Francis Xavier's School, Goodna, took a trip down memory lane as they celebrated the centenary of the school recently.

About 60 people enjoyed a night of fun and memories as they gathered at the Goodna RSL function centre for a staff reunion dinner.

Master of ceremonies and former teacher librarian Glenda Hogg acknowledged guests and shared stories as past principals and staff entertained the group with anecdotes that kept the festivities on track.

Ms Hogg, who worked at the school for 25 years, was a great source of memories.

Tables were awash with the school's colour of blue, with accents of silver, and many gasps, sighs and chuckles could be heard as guests were treated to a slide show.

A highlight of the night was the trivia competition on the history of the school, which kept everyone talking.

Current staff member Brenda Reynolds said she was "ecstatic to mingle with former colleagues and catch up with friends from times past on such a wonderful evening".

2010 marked the 100th anniversary of the opening of the school and the staff reunion dinner was the first of many celebrations.

Events to look forward to included the opening of the new school buildings and the creation of a school mural.

Ipswich celebrates 150 years of Municipal Government

PIC: Ipswich celebrates 150 years
of Municipal Government with the dedication
of the new Mayoral chain of office.
Paul Pisasale is the 49th Mayor of Ipswich.

A special re-enactment of the first Ipswich Council meeting on 12 April 1860 occurred in Ipswich tonight.

The current mayor Paul Pisasale and councillors re-enacted the roles of the first mayor John Murphy and the other aldermen.

The main item of business was to appoint a Town Clerk on an annual salary of 200 pounds.

A large crowd was in attendance at the Ipswich Civic Centre including the great, great grand-daughter of the "Father of Ipswich" - George Thorn Snr, Margaret Nicol currently a resident of Springfield Lakes.

Pictures celebrate Ipswich's Rugby League history

QT

MEMORIES: Jan Christison sifts through the collection.

"RUGBY League is everything to Ipswich," a gruff voiced Noel Kelly says as he reflects on the game's 100-year history in the mining town.

This year marks the century of rugby league in Ipswich and the game will be celebrated with a photographic essay at the Ipswich Art Gallery next weekend which heavily features league legends like Kelly.

The exhibition is being put together by Brassall league historians Bob and Jan Christison.

The couple's photos bare no dust and date back to 1910, where smiles were rarer than Dud Beattie walking away from a fight.

Beattie was part of the all-Ipswich Australian front-row in the late 1950's that featured fellow west Brisbane bruisers Noel Kelly and Gary Parcell who dominated the Bulimba Cup.

Kelly is the archetype old-school footballer.

He now lives in Sydney, but the former Goodna butcher still recalls his days in the Bulimba Cup playing for Brothers as some of his life's best.

"It was a great time of my life, and the Bulimba Cup was a hard comp," he said.

"Ipswich will always be league territory I think; the game has too proud a history in the city."

The Queensland Times also played a large part in the success of league in Ipswich.

One the best players in the early years of Ipswich rugby league was Charles Scott, who was also a QT reporter.

Scott fought for his country in World War I.

A decorated soldier, he made lieutenant in November 1917 but unfortunately died one week later.

In the earlier years rugby league ran on the smell of hard work alone.

Before sponsors and television revenue, Ipswich men like Gov Clark mortgaged their house to pay for the construction of North Ipswich Reserve.

"It's actually easier to get hold of photos 80 years old than some of the ones taken this decade," Ms Christison said.

"They either don't bother taking proper team photos in competitions in the IRL or they can't find them."

You can view the results of the Christisons' hard work when the incredible exhibition runs at the Ipswich art Gallery on April 17 and 18.